A week passed without him feeling a single stir from the child. This was a good sign, or at least that was what he continued to remind himself. He was supposed to feel relieved. Happy, even. He had been able to console Sarah to the point at which she no longer felt lost in her own world.
So why did he find himself slouched upon his throne feeling completely and utterly depressed?
He had been brooding ever since he had returned back to the castle. Due to his gloomy mood, his labyrinth's magic had dulled and the sky was constantly dimmed a foggy grey.
Even his imbecilic goblins had taken note of his sullen state. The half that remained in his presence treaded carefully. No goblin wanted to join his companions in the now greatly-populated Bog.
He had managed to keep himself from checking up on her the entire week. In reality this shouldn't have been any sort of feat. Yet Jareth constantly found himself fighting the sometimes-overwhelming urge to produce a crystal and peer into little Sarah's life.
He simply couldn't accept this kind of behavior. It was unbecoming for him. He was a king! He was the Goblin King who had taken dozens of babes and never allowed himself to become emotionally attached to a single one. He couldn't afford such sentiments in his line of work.
So why was this slip of a human child occupying his thoughts in nearly every waking moment?
Jareth strove to convince himself the feelings would simply go away. He could not admit to himself that he had grown attached to her in such a short amount of time.
He would forget about Sarah Williams sooner or later. He had to.
The stir came two months later and the speed at which Jareth found himself answering Sarah's call embarrassed the hell out of him.
He appeared in the shadows of her room late into the night. Voices could be heard yelling from downstairs, soon followed by a crash. Jareth imagined a vase or something of the like had been thrown against the wall and shattered.
He cast his eyes to the bed and was unsurprised to see a form huddled under the sheets. Sarah was softly crying and curled up in the exact same position he had seen her in many nights ago.
Watching her distress yet again caused Jareth to feel a pang in his chest, which was quickly followed by a blood-boiling anger. Why couldn't her parents see for one second how their bickering and self-obsession was hurting this sweet child?
With a flick of his wrist, the music box Jareth gifted Sarah with came to life and began to play. The young girl flinched at the sudden sound and turned around to stare at the box with a perplexed expression.
"If a brave heroine must cry, then she should request a shoulder to cry upon." Jareth spoke as he slowly made his way out of the shadows he had appeared in.
Sarah looked up from her music box. She did not seem surprised to see him even after such a long while. However, her reaction surprised him. Instead of continuing to cry or denying she had even done so in the first place, she raised a small hand to her face and wiped her tears away.
"A hero never shows her weakness to others," she said in a small but definitive voice.
Jareth was momentarily startled into speechlessness, then a slow smile spread on his lips.
"Of course. My apologies." His voice, while formal, was edged with kindness. He strode over to Sarah's bedside and kneeled in front of her. "However, my Lady may talk of her troubles if she wishes to. Every great hero sometimes must turn to a friend."
Sarah sat up in bed and seemed to contemplate his offer. Her gaze slowly found its way back to the music box which still sat playing its melody on her bedside table. She was quiet for a great length of time.
When she finally did speak her voice was barely a whisper, "I'm scared."
Her admission did not come as a surprise. "What are you scared of, pet?" he asked kindly.
When she hesitated he pressed on. "Are you scared your mother and father will hurt each other?"
Sarah glanced down to her lap. When she bowed her head Jareth was sure he had hit a bullseye.
"I'm scared they don't love me," she softly admitted.
Oh... Jareth slowly inhaled. Love. Love was one of those human emotions he never quite understood. He had firsthand experience with obsession and he could admit to affection, but love was too foreign. Love was almost exclusively a human emotion. It was too complicated; even by Fae standards. Love was completely irrational, blinding, and mind-controlling. The Fae people had long given up on trying to understand the concept. Finally, It was deemed very dangerous.
Jareth had, on many occasions, boasted that he had never harbored love for anything. He loved nothing and no one- not even his crown.
Yet here he was, faced with an entirely pure form of love.
A love a child craved from her parents.
Jareth didn't know what to say. He had to admit to himself that he hadn't once observed what he could consider was a true sign of love from Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Surely they did love her. Then again, perhaps not. There was no written rule that a parent must love their child. Raise and care for them, yes, but love...
As Sarah gazed pleadingly into his eyes, Jareth felt his heart splinter.
Without thinking, the King reached out his arms and wrapped the girl in a tender embrace.
"Oh you precious thing," he murmured. Sarah pressed her face into the the crook of his neck. It was not long before he felt warm tears fall upon his skin.
Jareth didn't understand. Sarah was such a perfect child. She was sweet and compassionate. She enjoyed playing and laughing and exploring the outdoors. How could one find her any less than entertaining? Why couldn't her parents realize the blessing they had been given? What did they want from her? Did they want a mannered child? Such only took a basic level of teaching. Hell, even he had been able to explain a simple "thank you."
Jareth sighed as the little form in his arms continued to cry. It was no use to try and lie to her. Sarah knew the truth.
Adults so often underestimated how perceptive children could be. Sarah knew, without anyone having to explain it to her, that her parents did not truly love her.
With another heavy sigh, Jareth shifted so he could lift Sarah into the air before he settled down with his back against her headboard. He cradled the girl in his lap as she sniffled, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
"They don't deserve you," Jareth murmured as he placed a gentle kiss to the crown of her head.
The king felt a sudden and intense wave of hatred directed to Sarah's parents. Why was it they had been blessed with a healthy and beautiful child when his kind had difficulty even conceiving?
Any Fae family would give everything they had for a little girl as perfect as Sarah.
Inhaling slowly, Jareth raised a hand and ran it through the young girl's silky hair.
Any Fae family would give everything they had... But Sarah deserved so much better than an ordinary home.
She deserved the best.
She deserved the world.
She deserved to be a princess.
Yes, Jareth thought.
Exhausted from her crying, Sarah drifted into a fretful sleep in his arms.
If her parents do not want her, then I shall make her mine.
Jareth had, on many occasions, boasted that he had never harbored love for anything- not even his crown.
So why was this slip of a human child occupying his thoughts in nearly every waking moment?
Sarah deserved so much better than an ordinary home. She deserved to be a princess.
Author's Note: That's it, folks! I don't have any more written and at the moment I'm only debating writing more. For now, though, this is completed! I hope everyone enjoyed! Please tell me how you liked this little story!
